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Behind The Scenes: Chicago Furniture Brand Stars in Divergent

Strand provided everything from dining room tables, benches, storage cabinets, stools and kitchen shelves to the window screens found on homes in the Abnegation village.

Strand Design in Divergent

Divergent, the movie adaption of the young adult novel that dominated the box office this past weekend, is set in a dystopian Chicago where society is split into personality types. While that cheery setup may not necessarily scream high design, the filmmakers, which shot the movie in the Windy City last spring and summer, gave furniture from Strand, a celebrated local product design studio, a starring role.

Photo provided by Strand Design

Strand Design: Tripod Stool

Considering the post-apocalyptic world of Divergent, where citizens are struggling to survive and don’t waste a thing, Strand’s wood sourcing made them a fitting choice. The company uses local ash from Horigan Urban Forest Products, much of which has been repurposed after the trees have been affected by the emerald ash borer.

“The idea of making use with what people have is a theme in the book,” says Strand co-owner and principal Sharon Burdett.

Photo by Strand Design

Strand Window Screen for Divergent

How did the company fell about being the furniture of choice for a society after the collapse, particularly the selfless Abnegation house? It’s actually a pretty fitting compliment, says Burdett, since that situation would call for a return to pieces made with solid, timeless design in mind.

“It’s like Shaker and Amish furniture, how it’s done just right,” she says. “It’s furniture built to last for a long time, that keeps enduring, that celebrate the richness of the grain and the surface finish.”